Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the flexibility he has shown me today.

I am encouraged by the Minister's statement that he is exerting pressure on the Commissioner and building alliances on the transfer of quotas, which is a major concern across coastal communities. The lack of quota is a serious problem. It is very annoying that fishing is becoming less and less viable for many Irish fishermen. While they are unable to secure quota, some 50% of the quota in France is not taken up. The negotiations on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy in 2013 should provide for the introduction of a mechanism to allow excess or unused national quotas to be distributed to countries such as Ireland to enable them to maintain a viable industry. In the current circumstances, where we have mass unemployment, the economy is in a bad way and the economy of coastal communities has been decimated in recent years, Sinn Féin and all coastal Deputies will give the Minister their full support if he makes the transfer of quota a priority in the forthcoming negotiations. I ask him to do so.

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